EU has changed its risk assessment and is considering blocking Russian tankers, says European Commission spokeswoman

The European Union has changed its assessment of market risks and is considering a proposal to completely ban maritime services for Russian oil tankers as a strengthening of existing restrictions.

This was stated by the European Commission’s chief spokeswoman Paula Pinheau at a briefing in Brussels on Monday, Ukrinform writes.

According to her, the European Union has changed its assessment of potential risks to the stability of the oil market, which previously led the EU to choose price caps for Russian oil instead of a complete ban on maritime services for Russian tankers, fearing the corresponding market risks.

“When we put forward these proposals, we consider the possible consequences. So it is clear that there should have been changes in the assessment if we put forward this,” Paula Pinheau noted.

She also added that the proposal to completely ban maritime services for Russian oil tankers is being considered as a strengthening of sanctions.

“Still, even taking into account the price caps, Russian oil exports are still possible. With the ban on sea transportation, any oil export from Russia will become even more difficult, so the logic is exactly that, without going into details now,” the spokeswoman emphasized.

It is known that the EU will negotiate with the G7 on the seven states agreeing to a complete ban on maritime services for Russian oil tankers in order to make the sanctions more effective.

As previously reported by USM, the new package of sanctions against Russia delays the issue of Russian tankers.